My Hongkong trip: Part 3

Day 2:
From the beginning…we knew that this day was goin to be really hectic..and so we needed all the energy we could muster…so a good breakfast was a must!!

Found this really amazing coffee shop next to our hotel and they had the most amazing French Toasts ever!! The secret ingredient..peanut butter between the two slices and lots of honey..
So off we were for another adventurous day…

Agenda:

1. Wong Tai Sin Temple: This is the Temple of Luck in the heart of Kowloon and has become a must-visit for everyone who comes to hongkong…it is ‘the’ place to get your fortune read and unravel the future…
Everyone who goes there is given a canister of bamboo stick which are numbered….so you close you eyes and shake-shake-shake till one falls down…so you take that one to the fortune teller who will then pick out a paper with the same number and answer 1 question for you…
and wat was my question…’how will be my career in the next 1 year’..turns out a picked a chit which told a story of a general who faced hardship for a long time..but in the end was very successful!!
So in simple words…I am going to suffer a lot and face a lot of obstacles but in the end will have rivers flowing with milk and honey….

Is today my lucky day?

2. Temple of 10,000 Buddhas: Next stop was this amazing temple..I had read about in my hongkong bible…we made our way to Sha Tin in the New Territories..and tried to find our way to the temple…I knew it was on a hill..with about 500 steps leading upto it…we found a temple-kind of place..and went all the way up…only to realize that we had landed at the wong place..it was actually a Memorial for the dear-departed..oops!!
So down we went and finally took the right steps to the temple…the walk up is really interesting with sculptures of monks all the way up…
The temple was so serene and peaceful..felt like out of this world!! The main temple is really amazing…inside the temple..all along the walls..are small effigies of more than 10,000 buddhas..really very unique!

Potrayal of Emotions

Buddhas lining the walls

3. Repulse Bay: After a late lunch..we went back to hongkong island..and took a bus from Central to Repulse Bay…this is on the south side of hongkong..and is really a contrast to the buzz in central…as it is made up of beautiful beaches..long promenades hugging the south china sea..and the wonderful mountains in the backdrop..oh I wish I had a house in one of the wonderful condos along the sea!!

The breath-taking Bay

4. Stanley Market: This is an open air market on the south side of hongkong…and you get all possible souveniors..and kinck knacks..we were a bit late and the place was closing already…but still managed to get some beautiful water colour paintings of hongkong

5. Wan Chai and Causeway: This is one of the most lively places ever!! The streets were packed..the shops were glittering with all gizmo lights…and the atmosphere was just so electric!! We also ran into a anti-WTO protest march…quite interesting…Had some nice pork dim sums for dinner..while my veggie friends stared at me..

Hustle-bustle in Wan Chai

Here comes the Tram!

6. Avenue of Stars: It was quite late by now..we took the MTR back to Tsim Sha Tsui to go back to hotel…but on the way went to this beautiful promenade facing the harbour with the tall buildings of Central in the backdrop…was a bit misty..but still enjoyed the spectacular views of Hongkong

My Hongkong trip: Part 2

Day 1:

Caught the early morning to HongKong .. JetStarAsia was really quite good.. as each hour went by.. my excitement was rising..and finally after 3 hours we landed at HongKong Airport..being a budget airline we acutally got down on the tarmac..and were greeted with a nice chil air..it was such a nice relief from sulty sgpore!!..the airport itself was just amazing..it is so huge..only downer...the immigration just took too long!!
Once we were in the Arrival Hall..we got our Octopus cards..very similar to Ez-link..but much better as it is used more extensively in all shops as well!! Got the free coach for our hotel transfer...and planned our agenda for the day...

Agenda:
1. Cover Central District: This is the heart of Hongkong with all the financial centres housed in majestic sky scrapers..in addition it is also a historic district..with all the old British administrative buildings with their magnificent facades..the whole area is really impressive!!

Legislative Assembly

Towering Bank of China

Walkways on upper level!!

The new and the old..what a contrast!!

2. After roaming around in Central..we had to book our ferry tickets for Macau..so did that..and then off we went to the famous Victoria Peak..we took the tram..and god it goes steep..nearly like a 40deg angle!! the view from top aws really breath-taking..on one side is the whole central area..with the bay in the background..while on the other side is the quiet south hongkong and the open south china sea...
and it was really freezing up there..but felt better once we got some hot coffee and donuts!! We stayed till dark..to catch the night view of hongkong..and this is one sight you cannot miss!!

Up and away!! in the tram...

Sunset over the South China sea

The VIEW!!!

3. It was alreay quite late by now..so we made our way to Lan Kwai Fong..this is the place to be in the night..it is packed with pubs..restaurants..people are literally just spilling out on the streets..having drinks..chatting..partying and living it up!!

Finally we took the ferry across the bay...back to Tsim Sha Tsui..to our hotel..to call it a night..

The day had been just awesome!!!

Day 2 coming soon....

My Hongkong trip: Part 1

Yup..it has already been 3 weeks since I got back from Hongkong and today I finally have the time to share my adventures with all of you...

Planning:
A lot of preparations went into this trip..I believe that when you are goin to a new place..it is always wise to research the place fully in advance so that u know exactly wat u have to do once u r there...plus as you read more...the more excited you get..and the more fun you have!!!

Got this wonderful book from Borders.."City Guide:Hongkong and Macau" and this was literally the bible for me..it is so good..really if u r planning a trip..do get this!!
The next thing was to find a good fare and a good hotel..and the winners were..for the flight:JetStar Asia and for the stay: Hotel Kimberely..right in the middle of Tsim Sha Tsui..and the right agent for all this was "Holiday Bagus"

So after all the planning..I finally set out for hongkong with Aye Kay, NMK and another friend..Oh and what a trip it was!!!

Stay tuned for Day 1 of the trip....